The City of Whitehorse and the Yukon Government partner on Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse

This is joint news release between the City of Whitehorse and Government of Yukon.

WHITEHORSE – The City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon are partnering to commence Community Safety and Wellbeing Planning for Whitehorse. Efforts will focus on improving safety and wellness throughout the city and complement and enhance existing initiatives focused on improving safety in the downtown core, including the Yukon government-led Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan.

With support from the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative (ACSPI) and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities (CCFSC), the City of Whitehorse and the Government of Yukon will develop a multi-year action plan focused on proactive actions to reduce risk, vulnerability and harm throughout Whitehorse. This will be the first time ACSPI and CCFSC have collaborated on a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan.

The Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse will identify local safety concerns, prioritize actions to address them and outline strategies to improve overall safety and wellbeing throughout the community. As actions are identified they will be implemented during the planning process, which is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. As part of the planning process, the City and Government of Yukon, together with ACSPI and CCFSC, will conduct research, collect data and undertake community engagement. We encourage Whitehorse residents to participate in this planning process as it unfolds to share their views and inform future action to improve safety and wellbeing in the city.

Quotes:

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents is a priority for the City of Whitehorse. We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Yukon government on a Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse. This will be a comprehensive and community-wide plan – a first for our city – and working together with the Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative and the Canadian Centre for Safer Communities will ensure it is inclusive and representative of our entire community.”

– Mayor Kirk Cameron

“The Government of Yukon is deeply committed to the safety and well-being of Whitehorse and is actively implementing the Downtown Whitehorse Safety Response Action Plan. In partnership with the City of Whitehorse, we are taking another crucial step forward with the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for Whitehorse—a collaborative effort to build a safer, stronger downtown. By working hand in hand with partner agencies, Yukon First Nations governments, the RCMP, and the community, we will advance real action to meet Whitehorse’s safety objectives, implement meaningful solutions, and develop a strategic plan to tackle ongoing challenges. Together, we are shaping a safer future for Whitehorse.”

– Minister of Justice and Attorney General Tracy-Anne McPhee

Additional info:

– The Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative was developed by Public Safety Canada. It works to prevent incidents of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-spirit + people, provides a means to enhance accessibility to Restorative Justice programming and responds to the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

– The Canadian Centre for Safer Communities is a community of practice created to inspire local action and foster community safety and wellbeing through national leadership, collaboration, capacity building and knowledge exchange.

– Funding for the Community Safety and Wellbeing Planning for Whitehorse is being provided through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund.

For more information:

Matthew Cameron
Manager, Strategic Communications
City of Whitehorse
matthew.cameron@whitehrose.ca
867-689-0515

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
Laura.Seeley@yukon.ca
867-332-7627

Fiona Azizaj
Communications, Justice
fiona.azizaj@yukon.ca
867-332-1978